Intriguing-looking documentary here from Brazilian filmmaker Carolina Moraes-Liu titled Ebony Goddess: Queen of Ilê Aiyê, which tells the story of 3 young women searching for identity and self-esteem in a competition for the Queen of Ilê Aiyê crown.

Intriguing-looking documentary here from Brazilian filmmaker Carolina Moraes-Liu titled Ebony Goddess: Queen of Ilê Aiyê, which tells the story of 3 young women searching for identity and self-esteem in a competition for the Queen of Ilê Aiyê crown.

The film and its central focus seek to challenge prevailing Eurocentric standards of beauty in Brazil, a country famous for its slim supermodels and plastic surgery, by reinforcing Afrocentric notions of beauty, as contestants for the crown dress in, and perform dances in Afro-Brazilian tradition.

Carolina self-funded the low-budget documentary, which has screened at several film festivals across the globe to critical acclaim. Carolina, by the way, produced, directed, shot and edited the film, which is currently being distributed by Third World Newsreel.

Watch the trailer below, and if you're interested in seeing the entire film, DVDs are available on the film's website: ebonygoddessdocumentary.com; or if you're in Seattle, Washington DC, Puerto Rico, or Detroit in the June, it'll screen at festivals in those areas. The website has more info: